But other bacteria found in traditional, spontaneously fermented milks— Lactobacillus fermentum, L. casei, and L. brevis, for example—as well as L. plantarum from pickled vegetables, and the intestinal native L. acidophilus, do take up residence in us.

In consequence of this practice the early fathers often speak obscurely of the B. Sacrament, and call it bread and wine and _fermentum_ after the consecration, though they clearly teach the _faithful_ the doctrine of the real presence [6].

Rome at one time it was the custom of the pope to send a part of the consecrated bread to the priests in the titular churches that all might be united in offering the same sacrifice so that this fermentum, as it was called, might in spiritual sense leaven the whole mass of the faithful, make them one with the pope in faith and worship.

As a sign of the unity of the entire mystical Body of Christ with the pope as its visible head, acolytes transported to the priests of each titulus the Blessed Sacrament (fermentum) that had been consecrated by the pope.